Letters to the Editor
Posted March 22, 2007
Awesome view
To the Editor:
The angle of the webcam is awesome. Thanks so much for this wintertime treat. And thank you for the effort to vary the angle occasionally. Keep safe doing it, though.
Nancy Dorsey
Goffstown, N.H,
and Oak Bluffs
Land Bank not
'hostile' to
biological
conservation
To the Editor:
We write to clarify any misunderstanding as to public access to conservation properties ("Land Bank sees abutter influence in state's Ice House Pond decision," Martha's Vineyard Times, March 15, 2007). The article referred to negative comments about the Land Bank's commitment to biological conservation.
All groups in the Conservation Partnership are interested in both protecting land for biological conservation and providing public access where appropriate. From our own observation and experience, we protest anyone's characterization of the Land Bank as hostile to biological conservation. And, in fact, no acquisition of open space initiated by any of the Island's conservation organizations has been undertaken in order to bar public access. All groups, however, have a duty to safeguard fragile wetlands and rare or vulnerable wildlife habitat on their properties, and in some cases this is not compatible with general public access. All members of the Conservation Partnership strive to provide access wherever feasible, and frequently provide guided walks on conservation properties as a way to achieve both conservation and access. The reality is that the Island's conservation groups, including the Land Bank, work to preserve our natural resources for the benefit of all, which includes allowing access to conservation land whenever circumstances permit.
Thomas S. Tilghman
Chairman
The Conservation Partnership of Martha's Vineyard
Dogs prohibited
altogether
To the Editor:
In your March 15 story of the remarkable heroism that prevented a terrible tragedy at Long Point, you state, "several signs ask that all dogs be kept on a leash."
I may be finding different sources of information than you have access to, but in the public's assumed interest in knowing the correct uses for different kinds of properties, even if obliquely, you should make clear why a near-tragic incident like this occurred by publishing correct information.
Signs at each entrance say that dogs are prohibited from what you call a "reservation" but what The Trustees of Reservations call a "Wildlife Refuge" and also display as such in signage leading from all directions. The TTOR web site, (ttor.com), which is full of all sorts great information, shows a "no dogs" icon on the page for this property, and there is a sign leading out of the parking lot indicating the same total dog ban.
I have seen dog prints with and without accompanying human prints at Long Point for years. I've asked the TTOR's Long Point manager how it happens that people use the wildlife refuge to dog walk, and his response, quite practically and relative to some other forms of local beach security, is that they are not there 24/7/365 to tell people to respect the accumulated signs.
I have owned dogs within 2,000 yards of Long Point for more than a decade. I respect the signs because it's a wildlife refuge, and as such a person can use the property to get away from his own slightly-less-than wildlife.
But, even though the signs say everyone's slightly-less-than wildlife is prohibited all the time, there are those tracks, and there was almost tragedy.
So with all due respect, I would ask that you correct me, or make corrections to your report.
David Berlow
West Tisbury
Value of town
employment
contracts
To the Editor:
Much has been written lately about personal service contracts entered into by some Oak Bluffs department heads. Reading the headlines and stories, one would think that they are all lucrative and loaded with perks and benefits that are afforded to no other town employees. We would like to inform the voters of Oak Bluffs about the facts surrounding the contracts associated with the Wastewater Department.
To understand why we have these contracts, one must start at the beginning. Prior to our facility going on line, the town, having no wastewater department or employees, considered using an outside firm to manage and operate the facility (known as privatizing). The OB wastewater committee (an elected commission had not yet been set up), solicited bids from the industry; the prices that came back were higher than our projected budget; and even higher than the costs to manage and operate the Edgartown plant, which is twice the size of ours.
We consulted with the Department of Environmental Protection about possible options. Considering our small user base and plant, they suggested that we utilize the talent we had on-Island. Discussions were held with the Edgartown wastewater commissioners about whether we could utilize some of their staff to help us get the plant up and running and to assist in the training of our own operators.
The arrangement suggested was for us to utilize the Edgartown employees during their free time, evenings and weekends, to get our plant up and running. We on the Wastewater Committee felt strongly that Mr. Alosso would be an excellent department head for Oak Bluffs, working 20 hours per week; we assured Edgartown that they would, in no way, get less of his time.
Because a wastewater facility operates 24 hours a day/ seven days a week, a licensed operator must be on call for emergencies, to take instrument readings, and perform lab tests on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. With only two full-time operators, we felt that requiring them to be on call in the evening every other week and every other weekend was unacceptable. What we have done is to utilize the staff in Edgartown on a contract basis, to join our staff in taking shifts on call, so that each employee is on call about once every fifth week. This has worked well; those contract employees are paid an hourly rate, and receive absolutely no benefits.
Mr. Alosso's contract, which is with the O.B. board of selectmen, began in August of 2001, and we couldn't be more pleased with his management of the department, and the operation of the facility. As with the other contracts, Mr. Alosso receives no health or dental insurance, no paid sick time, vacation time, nor personal days. There are no bonuses, nor built-in salary increases. Mr. Alosso's annual salary started out at $40,000; and six years later is now $46,000. He also has the use of a pick-up truck, which enables him to share his services between the two towns.
This agreement has worked very well over the past five and a half years, and we are as shocked as everyone else to find that the town didn't have the authority to enter into these contracts with the wastewater personnel.
In 2001, the town adopted certain sections of Massachusetts State Law Chapter 40N, to enable the elected Wastewater Commission to function. A few sections that were not included at that time would permit these contracts to be legally executed. In view of Ron Rappaport and Michael Gilman's opinions, we will be presenting a warrant article at this year's town meeting asking the town to adopt another section of Chapter 40N which will give the wastewater commission the authority to enter into employment contracts and maintain the current level of staffing.
Without this option, we would need to hire more employees to maintain the current staffing levels. These employees would be fully benefited with all town benefits and we would have to pay all the costs associated with them. We would be paying for many more hours than the contract employees because the contract employees are paid only as we need them. The costs to run the department would increase by more than $100,000 per year. It must be emphasized that the costs of the wastewater plant are completely paid for by the 700 users; there is no cost to the OB taxpayers. With user fees already a burden for many users, these extra costs would be devastating.
We hope this letter explains the use of professional service contracts at the Oak Bluffs Wastewater Facility, the reasons for having them, and their benefits. We urge everyone to vote yes to adopting Section 5 of Chapter 40N.
Robert A. Iadicicco
Commission Chairman
Richard Combra
Commissioner
Hans Von Steiger
Commissioner
By any other name
To the Editor:
Excellent articles by Jim Hickey in the Gazette about the very questionable goings-on in the offices of the Oak Bluffs selectmen.
Ron Rappaport is quoted as saying: "Illegal is a charged term because it implies something criminal took place," but later he added: "But if someone were to say this happened outside of the law, I wouldn't quibble with that."
To paraphrase Shakespeare, a skunk by any other name smells as foul.
It's time to do a thorough review of our selectmen. I strongly suggest those selectmen, past and present, who spoke of Kerry Scott's concerns and misgivings as "meddling," that in fact brought to light these problems, need to come forward and make a very public apology to Ms. Scott. Keep an eye on them, Kerry.
David Whitmon
Oak Bluffs
Biased reporting charged
To the Editor:
The Land Bank makes charges of bias in the Ice House Pond matter. I don't understand why The Times article wasn't simply headlined, "Pot calls kettle black." Isn't it hypocritical to write an article about bias when the journalist has a personal tie with the man claiming bias? What about journalistic integrity?
Nelson Sigelman has a personal tie with Land Bank Commission chairman Tom Robinson. Why did Mr. Sigelman fail to include how tricked Mark Mattson was by the Land Bank? Mr. Sigelman did state how unfair Mr. Robinson felt it was for Mr. Mattson to even be allowed to comment on the matter. Reporting only half an argument "would make one suspicious," to borrow a phrase from a Land Bank commissioner.
I fail to see how ecologist Tim Simmons saying, "I think the MVLB is a fine agency and has accomplished a great deal, but all agencies can improve, be improved," can be seen as an act of "open hostility" and "clear prejudice" and "obvious bias." Mr. Robinson's complaints that the Land Bank has never before been questioned seem odd to me. Isn't it in the best interest of all to question how our public agencies are managed, and in so doing, improve them?
Anyone who lives here or reads Mr. Lengyel's mission for the Land Bank would correctly assume that the Land Bank cares mostly about walking trails and opening up property to the public as quickly as possible. We even have one Land Bank commissioner, Pamela Goff, saying so regarding Ice House Pond. "I just want people to be able to swim there this summer."
I'm no limnologist, but as far as I can tell, the Land Bank pays little attention to the inconsistencies of nature, and that it's not always ecologically beneficial to come up with a static management plan without regard to nature's continuous and changing balancing of itself. It's been my experience that the Land Bank folks are rather self-righteous, and don't really care about their contradictions or questionable conduct in how land is obtained, as long as more and more properties are purchased. I didn't realize, however, that Land Bankers would carry on so when things don't go according to how they believe they should. I would think that the Land Bank would welcome expert help and guidance if they care as much about the ecology as they say they do.
Jacqueline Mendez-Diez
Chilmark
Paying respects
to a great Lady
To the Editor:
Saturday night I took what was I thought my last crossing on the Islander to the Vineyard. I was choked up as I drove my car on for the final time, was directed as always down the treacherous side wing, and parked for my biweekly 45-minute voyage. Normally I sit in the car, as many year-rounders do to make phone calls, work on my laptop, or snooze. But on Saturday, I got out to take my "final walk," like last year's Miss America, around the ferry that has carried me several thousand times. I ran into the usual regulars that also commute every Saturday night on the 6:15. Jerry Mayhew, who worked for the Steamship for many years, and I reminisced about the decades of storms and ice that we have plowed through together as well as some of the happy memories and calamities (scraping the paint off our cars numerous times as we navigate down that damn side wing) that we had experienced on the boat throughout our lives.
I went up to the bow of the boat and stood below the wheelhouse as we pulled out from Woods Hole. I zipped up and stepped to the railing at the very tip of the bow. As we came around Nobska point I leaned out over the rail and spread my arms to have a Kate Winslett moment from the movie Titanic. The Islander rounded the bend and miraculously I looked right up at the dark red full moon in a total lunar eclipse. Wow. This was a major God moment happening.
I stood at the bow for the crossing staring at the eclipse and looked back on my life and contemplated all the twists and turns that had brought me to this moment. No regrets; not a one. Instead of remembering all the "mistakes" I've made over my life, I think I'll remember them as "life lessons" instead. All those wrong choices were really opportunities to learn something that I was supposed to.
On Sunday, I shared my revelation on the bow of the Islander with a special group of friends that I have met with every Sunday for many years. I was invited to join in the official final crossing, Monday at noon, and return on the maiden voyage of the new Island Home. I agreed to take the last voyage of the Islander along with all her other dear friends to pay respects to a great lady. I didn't know how I could top my Saturday night's trip on her, and I am slightly reluctant about maiden voyages after my Titanic re-creation deja vu. All I know is that there are no coincidences in life and I was without a doubt meant to be on the Islander on Monday. I hoped that I would let her go with a proud and happy heart and return home on a new calm sea in my soul.
Monday at 12 noon was the final sailing of the MV Islander after 57 years of service. At 11 am there was the formal decommissioning ceremony. The icy temperatures prevented the impressive turnout to gather outside so all squeezed into the Vineyard Haven terminal building. My favorite part was the old Island salty dogs at the podium. The stories of The Islander crashing into the Shenandoah schooner, running aground off Oak Bluffs, beaching herself like a wounded whale during Hurricane Carol of '54, and many other tales were told in eulogy to acknowledge the laying away of a great Island matriarch.
We all lined up around the dock for photographs and to simply gaze at her in the slip for the last time. Many old friends of mine were there as well as relics of the past who were friends of my parents. Tom Hale who had been at the podium a few minutes before spoke to me of my father, an old Navy buddy. Nan Carter came up to speak to me about my Mother; they had been teenage girlfriends in the 1930s. I bit down hard again, as I remembered all the crossings I had taken with my parents. I could envision my mother sipping a gin and tonic sitting on the top deck in one of the old aluminum and canvass folding chairs that used to blow around in the wind. I saw my father, a Naval officer for 38 years, standing with his dog Strider at the stern railing inspecting the crew below as they ushered the cars on to the boat, looking at his watch impatiently to make sure the departure was exactly on time.
The 12 noon departure was delayed with all the photos of the crew. Dad would have been furious. I made sure that Tommy Mello took my ticket. My grandfather kept his 1946 black Ford at (his Grandfather) Gabe Mello's garage in the winters, and were friends. I got a prime spot to stand at the top stern railing to survey down at the action. (Everyone turns into their parents). I waved at Bridget who had been five minutes away from being my sister in law. The horn blew and the Islander nudged out. Then the magic happened. All the police and fire trucks started. The cars started honking. The boats in the harbor tooted their horns and whistles. As we rounded the Jetty the town fireboat screeched the sirens, sprayed great jets of water high into the air and followed us out in to the harbor with police boats and the harbormaster joining the entourage. As we went by the V.H. yacht club, the official Coast Guard escort joined the entourage with several grand gunboats flanking the stern. Suddenly, the big Coast Guard rescue helicopter swooped in and hovered so low that the spray from the rotor blades misted us standing at the stern. We all waved to the rescue guys sitting in the open doorways and I bit down again at how wonderful but under-appreciated their service to our country is. Their magnificent escort stayed with us all the way to Woods Hole. The thumping helicopter slowly circled the boat and then fell in to a low position to coax a dignified old lady to finally sit and rest. Their magnificent escort stayed with us all the way to Woods Hole.
We pulled into the slip on the mainland. I stayed on the back rail, shivering with cold and stared at Naushon Island. It was time to say goodbye, time to let go of the past, time to put away my youth. "How 'bout a coin," I remembered as my friend Chico and I would sing up at the passengers waiting to board who would throw spare change into the water that we would dive for. We could see the Islander's huge propeller under the water as we dug for nickels in the sand 40 years ago. "Hey you kids get out of there," Jerry Mayhew would yell before the engines would start. It has been a long time since they let kids dive for coins. It has been a long time since I have been a kid. It was time to debark and leave the boat for the last time. I was one of the last passengers down the gangplank.
I walked over to the new boat; an awkward giant - unwelcome in someone else's slip. The car deck looks like a football field. The second and third levels are enclosed with wireless ports and flat screen TV screens. The modern groupings of desks, chairs and couches remind me of the American Airlines Admirals Club. I sat with my friend Dana who asked if I wanted to go up to the upper outside deck. "No," I answered, "I have the rest of my life to get to know every little inch of this ship." We held hands as the new ship silently glided out. We both looked out the window at the Islander as her loud rumbling engines were being shut down. At 16 knots the trip back would take only half an hour. We finally could not see her anymore and we turned, sat quietly and faced our Island Home.
Thomas Cox
Vineyard Haven
Part of the family
To the Editor:
I just wanted to congratulate the staff of the Martha's Vineyard Times for your wonderful coverage of the Islander's farewell to the Vineyard.
I always wondered if I was a bit nuts to think of the Islander as a part of my family. Judging by all the comments and stories I read this past week, I gather I am not alone.
Although I was not able to get to the Vineyard to be on hand for the ceremonies Monday, I enjoyed watching your web cam and reading the news coverage online from California.
As a regular summer resident of Falmouth Heights, I have watched from our porch as the Islander crossed the Sound for all of my 50-plus years. It got to be I could almost tell the time based on where the Islander was on the horizon. And, of course, when I journeyed to the Vineyard, I did my best to arrange my schedule so I could travel on the Islander. Each trip was like spending time catching up with a dear old friend.
Knowing her days were winding down, this past Christmas I featured a photo of the Islander on my Christmas card and shared some of her history with my California friends.
Later this year, when our family heads to the Cape for our 125th summer at Falmouth Heights, it won't quite be the same to look out and not see the Islander gliding across the Sound from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven and back again.
She will be greatly missed. However, the happy memories of heading to the Vineyard while enjoying the view from the Islander's top deck forward on a perfect summer day will be treasured by me forever.
Thank you, Islander, for your service - and the wonderful memories.
Mark S. Harmsen
Pasadena, Calif.
Windmills yes,
but not there
To the Editor:
This is an open letter to MEPA regarding the Cape Wind project, submitted before the end of the comment period, March 22.
I want to register my strong disapproval of the Cape Wind project in Vineyard Sound.
This is in spite of the fact that I most ardently believe that, in order to safeguard our national security, economy, climate and health, we must reduce the use of oil, gas and coal for electricity production - as much as possible and as soon as possible.
Wind is indeed one of the excellent ways to produce the clean green electricity we need - but not in that location.
Vineyard Sound is a pristine wilderness area - equivalent to the Grand Canyon or other treasured sites. Our minds and souls are nourished and calmed as we take in the glorious sight of this vast expanse of water and the distant low shorelines - a rare piece of our planet right in our own neighborhood for us to enjoy. This much loved area is as yet untouched by the ugly human imprint that over the last 50-60 years has spread like cancer across the land, marring the beauty and balance of nature in ways that render any sentient being sad and rootless.
As I envision what Cape Wind Farm is proposing, I am so appalled: 130 wind machines, each as tall as a 40-story building, installed across 25 square miles of this pristine wilderness area. Each of these 130 wind machines with several blinking lights (to reduce the risk of airplane collisions), which under the normal summer night hazy conditions would emit light pollution like a city, projecting far up into the sky, obscuring our view of the universe of stars.
Yes, I want to see windmills, but not there. There are thousands of better locations, which already have the human imprint: along highways, in industrial areas, even on farms (where the income from the wind energy would yield higher profits than the crops). The town of Hull is a great success story: people love their first windmill, at the high school, and it yields $128,000 profit per year. Check it out at www.hullwind.org.
If 130 (or 260 the size of Hull) windmills were installed here and there in various locations around the Cape and the islands the annual profit would be over $16,000,000. Let us keep that profit and that control in our own communities.
Please do not allow Cape Wind to fulfill their deed.
Anna Edey
West Tisbury
Indefensible,
at least by name
To the Editor:
The surfers are rightfully angry at Chilmark because the town is trying to further deny them and everyone else not a Chilmark resident access to Squibnocket town beach. The surfing community on the Island however needs to do some in house cleaning in order to maintain the high moral ground. For example, a surfer living in West Tisbury or Aquinnah cannot rightfully complain about Chilmark's exclusionary beach policies while saying nothing about West Tisbury's or Aquinnah's. This also applies to the fishing, hunting, birding, and boating communities on the Island as well. To deny the public access to a public beach is morally wrong. As Martin Luther King said, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
The movement is starting, and we are coming to the up-Island town beaches this summer to end beach apartheid.
Erik Albert
Oak BLuffs
Time for beach action
To the Editor:
I've had a recurring daydream for several years now. It's 11 am on a beautiful sunny Sunday of the 4th of July weekend, the day we celebrate our American Revolution and Declaration of Independence. An unusual stream of traffic proceeds quietly along South Road heading toward the entry to Lucy Vincent Beach. People are walking and riding their bikes. Other people, on foot, are approaching this beautiful place from the beaches on either side. I see several hundred of them, quietly arriving at the beach and sitting down for the first of what will become many sit-ins at this and other Island town-only beaches. The security guard at the parking lot is powerless to stop this number of people from quietly passing by in order to reach the beach - there are simply too many of them.
Boston and other regional television stations have been made aware that this revolutionary event is to take place, and several news helicopters are hovering over the beach and parking lot. One is following the long line of protesters as they quietly proceed down South Road.
The unwelcome intruders remain at the beach for the entire day, refusing to leave until the sun drops below the horizon. Some groups are singing protest songs. Some have taken off their shoes to wade in the water to cool off on this hot summer day. This peaceful protest reminds many of us of the 60s and 70s, when we understood the power each of us has to make changes to shameful practices like the Vineyard's beach apartheid. There is power in numbers, and those group protests in our past worked to make many significant changes in all of our lives.
Will this remain my recurring daydream? Or is it time to make this protest action a reality? I think so. What about you?
Joanne Horgan
Vineyard Haven
Kindly concern
To the Editor:
Thursday night at about 2:54
I fainted right down smack onto the floor.
My head smashed hard, I made n'ery a moan;
My husband, my son they dashed right to the phone.
It was a rotten, cold, wet, sleeting night
Yet within seconds one saw the lights
Of vehicles rushing pell-mell to the scene,
Bringing the OB Emergency Team.
Calmness prevailed, while with wonderful great grace,
An oxygen mask was placed over my face;
A collar soon immobilized my neck;
I was strapped down tight - oh my, what a wreck!
Efficiency, care, and kindly concern
Ruled the night, as they navigated the turn
Down the stairs, right out the front door -
Surely, I say, one could ask nothing more!
At the hospital we were once more met
With yet another amazing, caring set.
The X-rays, the scanners were set in motion:
Good Glory, what a lot of commotion
I'd caused to so many generous folk -
Especially, when I wasn't about to croak!
No cause for the drama was ever found -
At 8:45 I was homeward bound
Thinking how silly it is to fall faint,
But ever so grateful for the OB Saints!
Our sincere thanks to all those "saints": Police officers Jim Morse and Damien Harris; Paramedics Johnny Rose, Marina Lent, Jason Blandini; EMT Responders Gail Stevenson, Marsha Gressler, Rico Holley; Hospital staffers Dr. Peter Laursen, radiologist Natasha Hartmann, and the several wonderful nurses who rallied on my behalf. Thank you
Margarett Burke
Oak Bluffs
Wonderful job
To the Editor:
Pat Waring did a wonderful job on the article about the Vineyard Smiles Art Show in last week's Times. Ms. Waring covered both the art show and the dental program with great detail and accuracy. What a delight to see that beautiful watercolor gracing the front of the Calendar section. The photos of the children's art, as well as the children, were cheerful and colorful.
I wanted to thank the Steamship Authority for its enthusiastic support of the project. Gina Barboza and Kimberlee McHugh were extremely accommodating in helping to coordinate the event. Our Vineyard Smiles coordinator, Henrietta McElhiney, did an excellent job of organizing all aspects of the art show. The schools, the After School Program and the Boys and Girls Club helped us to promote the art show and gather the artwork. And of course, the children deserve kudos for contributing the creative and vibrant pieces that adorned the walls of the SSA terminal.
I'd like to offer a minor correction to the article, which states that the Vineyard Smiles dentist has seen "at least 25 school children." The actual number is 250, and growing every week.
Sarah Kuh
Director
Vineyard Smiles and
Vineyard Health Care Access Program
Live environmentally friendly
To the Editor:
As Martha's Vineyard is a microcosm for the world, that is, a small representation of what happens elsewhere, we have an obligation to try and improve the impact our small Island has on the rest of the world.
Instead of worrying about beach boarder safety, I believe we must focus on making this Island as environmentally friendly as we can.
In India for fear of trash mountains, the government banned plastic shopping bags. We have the power to limit the amount of chemicals that run off our lawns and into our wells. We can choose to buy only biodegradable detergents, paper that has a post-consumer content, toys (like skateboards, and soccer balls) that promote exercise as opposed to batteries and electricity consumption. Support youth soccer and the Skatepark, instead of renting movies every night.
The reality is that everything is expensive here. Therefore the organic cereal could be cheaper than the processed, sugary popular brand. Same goes for the "seventh generation" line of detergents and paper. They are priced competitively, so everyone can help our world. Locally grown food travels less to your plate and therefore is way better for the world than broccoli from Brazil.
Our population is at its highest with no sign of slowing down. This means that our aquifer is under more and more stress each tourist season. We must do our part, and improve each year.
Please don't use a lot of bleach, ask your landscaper to use minimal fertilizer, buy from companies that care about our world, take all batteries to be recycled at Radio Shack, buy fuel-efficient cars, compost food and yard wastes, etc.
If building or remodeling, please try and be a responsible consumer. Buy from USA to cut down on material travel costs. Use recycled materials (call South Mountain), sustainably harvested wood (limit using rainforest wood), renewable heating sources (wood stoves that don't rely on electricity).
I am happy to answer any questions and help any home or building project become more responsible, 508-693-7913.
Nick Briggs
West Tisbury
Who may need help?
To the Editor:
On a recent long distance flight, I had the time to consider the question, "Who could use the assistance of the Island Food Pantry?" Here is what I concluded:
Someone out of work.
Someone without health insurance.
Someone just starting out on the island - an immigrant, a young person, a divorced person.
Seniors with fixed but limited incomes.
Someone who has had a major loss, be it a family member, their employment, their car.
Someone who has just begun renting only to find expenses unmanageable.
Someone who has lost his or her housing situation (the next situation could be even more costly).
Someone who has gained an additional family member - an infant, youth or adult.
Anybody who is in unexpected financial difficulty - even if temporary.
If you know of someone in any of these life situations, encourage him or her to be open to the support the Island Food Pantry offers. The pantry is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2 to 4 pm until April 13. It opens again in mid-October. During the other months we can respond to emergency needs as well; call 693-4764.
Thank you for your caring.
Armen Hanjian
Island Food Pantry coordinator.
Music therapy
To the Editor:
This letter was sent to Richard Leonard, president, Martha's Vineyard Co-operative Bank.
On behalf of Ken Chisholm and the entire Windemere staff, I want to thank you for selecting us to be a recipient of the music therapy workshops put on by the Berklee College of Music.
The 30 or so residents that participated greatly benefited from Karen and Antonia's work. One gentleman who's been with us for over a year came to his first ever recreational activity because of them. Another gentleman who can't hear or see very well was tapping his feet and was very relaxed, clearly enjoying the interaction Usually, he will make disruptive sounds when in a group. Other residents played instruments, moved to the music, or sang along; one actually got up and danced with Karen.
The afternoon public event drew enthusiastic staff as well as community members. I think they would have stayed all day if they could have. I know there was a lot of interest in the process and the benefits of music therapy. It was evident that Karen and Antonia were very caring, experienced professionals.
We are so grateful for this kind offer to help those who are so vulnerable to depression.
Dorothy Soquist, MSW, LICSW
Director of Social Services
